Umbilical Cord Care Practices among Nursing Mothers in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to assessed umbilical cord care practices among nursing mothers in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State. Two objectives guided the study, from which two research questions were posed and answered. Literature was reviewed according to the variables of the study. The study adopted a survey research design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select two hundred (200) nursing mothers used as respondents in the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The instrument was duly validated by relevant authorities. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result obtained from the findings revealed that nursing mothers in Ogoja LGA commonly use hot water for umbilical cord care, and there is a prevalent use of toothpaste among nursing mothers in the study area for umbilical cord care. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the Ministry of Health should launch targeted education campaigns to inform nursing mothers in Ogoja LGA about the risks associated with excessive use of hot water for umbilical cord care. They can collaborate with local health authorities and healthcare providers to develop educational materials and organize community outreach programmes. Furthermore, healthcare providers should undergo training to equip them with the knowledge and skills to advise nursing mothers against using toothpaste for cord care.

Keywords: Umbilical Cord Care, Nursing Mothers, Use of Hot Water, Use of Toothpaste.